Letter to the Editor

Schools must be diligent about student safety

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

To the editor:

Gosnell School is lacking in protecting their elementary students. A third-grade student was picked up by her dad yesterday (Monday) for a dental appointment. With his ID in hand to show proof of who he was, since this was his first time checking his child out of school, he walked in stating his reason and gave the secretary the child's name.

Without any questions, she got on the intercom to have the child sent to the office. When this father asked if she needed ID, she replied, "No, not unless the child is on a restricted pickup list."

Let me add that this family recently moved from Paragould, where their child attended Greene County Tech, and when this child was picked up, even if everyone in the school knew you personally, an ID had to be presented as school policy. With child predators in every city both big and small, protection measures must be carried out without fail, because the minute we let our guard down, another child shows up with an Amber Alert flashing across the TV screen in an attempt to bring that child back safely to its family.

We do not live in a Beaver Cleaver world, where anyone who walks into a school claiming to be a parent can take that child from there without any proof of who they are. In this instance, it was the real parent picking up his child, but I shudder to think of what could have happened to this baby if it had not been the real parent there.

Parents, talk to your school board about safety requirements when your child is picked up from their school. We have lost too many of our little ones because of stupidity, and this is one stupid mistake that can be cured with taking 60 seconds to check out someone's ID. It was my grand-daughter involved here, whom I love very much. When she is in my care, I take every precaution to keep her safe, and I don't think it's too much to ask that those responsible for her when she attends school should take drastic measures to assure the safety of every child in their care, every day, every time.

Jannette Taylor
Gosnell